Red Letter Part 3: How To Be Respected

HOW TO BE RESPECTED

Luke 14:8-11 (HCSB) When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give your place to this man,” and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, “Friend, move up higher.” You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

1. Humility is simply being free from pride. Blessings from God come through humility.

Luke 14:11 (HCSB) For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

2. The first step of humility is the willingness to listen.

1 Peter 5:5 (HCSB) In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

3. Without humility, you are naked. Naked in the Greek is “nek-kid” meaning, “Having not a stitch of clothes on.” In other words, you are unprotected.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:6 (HCSB) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.

We all want the honor of being respected. Humility is the pathway to that honor.